Employers would have the responsibility to stop sexual harassment and discrimination at work under new laws introduced to parliament.
The federal government moved to implement seven recommendations outlined in Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins's Respect@Work report.
The legislation introduced to the House of Representatives on Tuesday would place the onus on employers to take "reasonable and proportionate" measures to eliminate sexual discrimination in the workplace as much as possible.
The Australian Human Rights Commission will also be beefed up with new powers to enforce the requirements, and will be able to give compliance notices to employers not meeting the obligations.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the laws would make clear the obligations employers had to stamp out sexual discrimination.
"Sexually charged or hostile workplace environments can increase the risk of a person experiencing other forms of unlawful discrimination, including sexual harassment," he told parliament on Tuesday.
"Focus on prevention of workplace sexual harassment and discrimination also shifts responsibility from those who experience that discrimination and harassment to those who are best placed to prevent it."
It's estimated one in three people have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace in the past five years.
Conduct resulting in hostile work environments based on sex will be banned under the legislation, while federal public sector organisations will also be required to report to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency on gender equality indicators.
The Respect@Work report was published in March 2020.
The report laid out 55 recommendations to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
Mr Dreyfus said the government was committed to implementing all the recommendations outlined in the report.
"Sexual harassment is a serious and pervasive issue that affects all industries and all professions and demands a fundamental rethink in how our laws are shaped to prevent, and respond, more effectively," he said.
"Sexual harassment is by no means inevitable, it is preventable, and this government will continue work to ensure that it is addressed."
The bill is expected to be referred to a Senate committee to be scrutinised before becoming law.
